Autogas returns to Norridgewock

The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer, aviation sales rep for U-Fuel, and president of EAA1114.

The popular Central Maine Airport of Norridgewock (OWK) in Maine has in recent years been a poster child for the negative consequences of ethanol’s adulteration of autogas supplies in our nation. As reported in the press, despite the best efforts of Mike Willey, a member of the Norridgewock Airport Committee, autogas disappeared from the Northeast last fall. But Mike didn’t give up, and recently sent us the good news that the fuel will soon again be available at Norridgewock.

“We have been successful at re-establishing our gas supply from our source in Vermont and will have E0 91+ octane fuel at OWK starting in June. This is a local grass-roots effort with support from both State Senator Lisa Marrache and our US Senator Olympia Snowe. Our success has come from persistence of the local effort here at the airport and I would not wait for a legislative solution in the short term. It might help in the years to come, but right now it is just a matter of finding economic local supplies and making arrangements to get it to the airport.”

We contacted Norridgewock’s supplier, D&C Transportation in Orleans, Vermont, and spoke with Winston Judd. He confirmed that they’re happy to supply any airport in Maine, Vermont or New Hampshire with 91+ octane ethanol-free autogas. Contact Winston at 802-754-6664.

Congratulations to Mike Willey at Norridgewock, and thanks to Winston Judd and his colleagues at D&C Transportation for supporting this important grassroots aviation in the Northeast. Pilots can show their gratitude by including Norridgewock as a top-off stop on any travel in this beautiful part of the country in the future.